Urethral Stricture

Siamak N. Nabili, MD, MPH

Dr. Nabili received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), majoring in chemistry and biochemistry. He then completed his graduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His graduate training included a specialized fellowship in public health where his research focused on environmental health and health-care delivery and management.

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

Urethral stricture facts

Any inflammation of the urethra resulting from injury, trauma, previous surgery, or infection can cause urethral stricture.

Symptoms of urethral stricture can range from no symptoms at all to complete urinary retention.

Imaging studies and endoscopic evaluations are important tools in the diagnosis of urethral stricture.

Medications generally play no role, and surgical procedures remain the mainstay of treatment for urethral stricture.

The overall prognosis for urethral stricture is good.

What is the urethra?

The urethra is the opening that allows urine to leave the bladder. In men,
the urethra is a thin tubelike structure that starts from the lower opening of
the bladder and traverses the entire length of the penis. In women, it is a
shorter opening coming off the lower opening of bladder and is between 2.5 to 4
centimeters (cm) in length.

The urethra has a sphincter that is normally closed to keep urine inside the
bladder. When bladder fills with urine, there are both voluntary and involuntary
controls to open the urethral sphincter to allow urine to come out.

What is urethral stricture?

Urethral stricture refers to any narrowing of the urethra for any reason
whether or not it actually impacts the flow of urine out of the bladder.

Any inflammation of urethra can result in scarring, which then can lead to a
stricture or a narrowing of the urethra. Trauma, infection, tumors, surgeries,
or any other cause of scarring may lead to urethral narrowing or stricture.
Mechanical narrowing of the urethra without scar formation (developmental causes
or prostate enlargement) can also cause urethral stricture.

Urethral stricture is significantly more common in men and boys compared to
women and girls. This condition is considered rare in females.